Sciatica

[VicUser]

In 1995 I had leg and foot pain and the Dr found that I had a herniated disk at L5/S1. I had surgery and was pain free for about 5 yrs. In 2000 I started having similar symptoms as I had before surgery and from that time until the 30th of Nov 2007 I had been taking three 5/500mg vicodin a day. Since the pain returned I have been to two different pain Drs and received cortisone epidural shots as well as tried Neurontin (gabapentin), a MRI shows that there is not a protruding disk at L5/S1, but the Drs think it is due to scar tissue. One pain Dr said that as long as I don't need to increase the dosage there is not a problem, but my family Dr does not want to prescribe meds too much longer. I have also tried acupuncture and had great success while on a 14 day cruise and had 6 treatments. For about two months afterwards I was more or less pain free and didn't take meds. Since then I have been to two different local acupuncturist, the last one is also a Dr and have had very little success. I have not taken any meds for 6 weeks now and am having a quite a bit of pain. I do use a hot tub, when weather permits, which does help, I also use a heating pad at home frequently. With meds I can live pretty much a normal life and without them it is very limited. Any suggestions on what to do about chronic back, leg and foot pain, without meds?

[re448]

I seen on some internet sites that the docs say the scar tissue should not cause any pain. I also had a herniated disc and had surgery nov 2007. I think i would continue seeing another doc, it seems with the leg pain that it is sciatica. I know that when i had  a lot of pain that the heat really helped with that, but later was told to stay away from heat but it did help with the pain. I know it has only been 2 months since my surgery but i still have leg pain my doc thinks it is from my nerves so he has me taking lyrica which is actually a seizure medicine, but it is suppose to help settle your nerves, so he is hoping it will help the nerves in my leg. good luck

[KOOLKT]

Sleep on heating pad, stay off of the affected leg as much as possible, even if you have to use a cane or stand by a coffee table, resting the affected leg on it. Find a doctor that will prescribe Percocet, Vicodin is a crappy drug, too much tylenol in it. Oh and grit your teeth. That's what I have been doing for 5 yrs. Trying tro find someone to help me too.  Good Luck